KENYA: Network of Jesuit NGOs in Africa Calls for “Immediate” Action and Prayer for Sudan
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
Members of Jesuit Justice and Ecology Network Africa (JENA) have joined other voices across the globe calling for immediate action and prayers for the Northeastern Africa country of Sudan that has been in conflict since mid-last month.
JENA which is a continental network of Jesuit institutions, ministries, and partners working towards social justice and environmental sustainability, have asked the international community, all governments and organizations to make efforts and “bring stability and aid to Sudan.”
“This is a humanitarian crisis that demands immediate action,” officials of JENA stressed in a message shared with AMECEA Online Monday, May 1, calling upon various actors to take urgent steps to restore peace and security in Sudan.
“We welcome the U.N. (United Nation) Secretary General’s decision to send Martin Griffiths to Sudan to provide humanitarian aid and coordinate relief efforts. We call on all governments and organisations to support the U.N. in its efforts to bring stability and aid to Sudan,” the shared message read in parts.
Members of JENA emphasized their concern to those suffering and appealed for a permanent solution for the country of Sudan saying, “As a community that values peace and justice, we cannot remain silent while our fellow human beings suffer…there is need for a long-term solution to prevent such crises from happening in the future.”
They continued and stressed, “Let us not forget the lessons of history and the importance of addressing the root causes of conflict. As we work towards a peaceful resolution to this crisis, we must also address the underlying political and economic issues that have contributed to the violence.”
Referencing Pope Francis message in his encyclical Letter Fratelli Tutti on humanity’s right to life, JENA officials said, “Every human being has the right to life, and this right is not negotiable.”
They further disclosed witnessing the collapse of the nation’s health system, with hospitals being shelled and medical services becoming scarce.
“More than a dozen health workers have lost their lives, and two-thirds of hospitals in Khartoum have closed down…We must provide resources and support to strengthen Sudan’s health system and ensure that basic medical services are available to all those in need,” they narrated in their Monday message.
As members of the continental network urge all parties involved in the conflict to put an end to the violence and prioritize the well-being of civilians caught in the crossfire, they further call for continued prayers for peace to reign in Sudan.
“JENA urges all men and women of good will to join us in prayer and action for peace in Sudan,” they appealed and added, “As Pope Francis reminds us, Prayer is all-powerful, Prayer is an expression of our cry to God for help, to come to our aid. Let us use it to bring peace to the hearts of all people.
“Let us work together to support our brothers and sisters in Sudan and build a world where all people can live in dignity and security,” they concluded.
Soon after the conflict erupted, the Chairman for the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences of Eastern Africa, AMECEA, sent a message of solidarity with the Church in Sudan in which he appealed for the warring factions to p
